Monmouth Park hosted the $750,000 United Nations Handicap (G1) on Saturday, one of the top races for older horses on the turf and is of greater importance this year with the Breeders' Cup coming to the Jersey Shore track in October. Trainer Todd Pletcher sent two of his best turf runners, defending champion and course record holder English Channel, sent off as the heavy 3-5 favorite, and 3-1 third choice Honey Ryder, a 6-year-old mare taking on males, coming off a win in Belmont Park's Sheepshead Bay Handicap. 2005 United Nations winner Better Talk Now was the 5-2 second choice, coming off the Manhattan Handicap at Belmont where he defeated English Channel.
33-1 longest shot Fri Guy set the pace for the first mile while English Channel sat 2 lengths back in second, through fractions of 25.60, 49.90, 1:14.45, and 1:38.33 over the firm course. 20-1 Embossed battled with Honey Ryder for third, while Better Talk Now sat 5 lengths behind them. Turning for home, English Channel quickly closed the gap and passed the pacesetter just inside the 3/16 pole, taking over the lead with a furlong to go. Honey Ryder closed well on her stablemate but English Channel had a clear advantage, easily holding her off to win by a length in a new course record of 2:12.89. It was another 2 lengths back to Better Talk Now in third, who also put in a good rally but was left with too much ground to gain late. English Channel lowered his own course record for 1 3/8 miles on the Monmouth turf by 0.35 seconds.
Results chart
